Plumb, level, and inclinometer.



No, 815,690. PATENTED MAR. 20,1906.

W. A. DIMIGK.

PLUMB, LEVEL, AND INGLINOMETBR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23, 1905.

, W/TNESSESJi INVENTOR W I E i ftionsof other details, and, ass

.UNTITED STATES. P TE ro FIoE.

" W1NsLow ,A. DIMICK, or vANooUvER, WASHINGTON.

PLUM'B, LEVEL, AND IFNCLINOMETER.

of Washington, have invented a new and Im-' proved Plumb, Level, and Inclinometer, of

-which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

- buildings of any character, so as to quickly and accurately determine if the structures or parts thereof are level or properly inclined or I5vertically positioned, as the character of the work may require, and has for its object to provide novel features of construction for 'an instrument of the character indicated. slmple, compact, and convement 1n serv1ce, afiording a combined.

which are very plumb, level, and inclinometer in one small mstrument, which may be readily secured upon a straight-edge of suitable length for service as required.

- struction and combination of parts, as is hereinafter described, and defined in the sub- -joined claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompany- 3 ing drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures. Figure 1 is a side view of the improvement 35. mounted upon a level-stock, shown broken away at each end. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal transverse sectional view of the instrument I removed from the-lev'el-stock,taken substantially on the line 2 2111 Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is. a re-- 4 versed side view of the improved instrument :seen in direction of the arrow 20 in Fig. 2. Fig.4 is a" transverse sectional view of the instrumentsubstantially on the line 4' 4 in Fig. :1; and Fi 5 is an enlarged sectionalviewof details, ta en substantially on the line 5 5 in i f Fig. .1, showing an adjusting device that is a' feature of the invention. 4

. A base-plate 6-, which is of cast-or late metal having ane'ssentiallyrectangular orm, 5o-is provided for the support in roper posiown, aniniwardly andu wardly inclined wall a is'profduced at eac end of the base-platetrans-- gverse'ly thereof, said sloped walls. at their "upper edges each joininga vertical transverse wall a, that. is at rightangle to the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 23, 1905.

inafter explained.

be described. Nearly central in the scale- .clearlyinFig.3.' The invention consists in the novel con-- asis shown in Fig. 1, but may be increased in Patented March 20, 1906.

Serial No. 288,757.

baseplate, and the ends of these walls are also sloped inward and upward, as is shown in Figs. 1 and 4, for a purpose that will be here- Centrally in the base-plate 6 a nearly-circularedged aperture 6 is formed, and oversaid aperture upon the normally outer surface p of thebase-plate an oblong scale-plate 7 is TlllS invention relates to an instrument of IO precision adaptedfor use in the'construction, of .roadways and sidewalks or the erection of imposed and pivotally secured near one end of each plate, as indicated at c in Figs. 1 and .3, the opposite end of the scale-plate having a flat arm d projectedtherefrom, which en-v gages an adjusting device, as will hereinafter plate 7 an opening 6 is formed, that ispreferably defined in its contour, as shown best in Fig. 3, one portion 6 thereof representing about two-thirds of a circle somewhat less in diameter than the opening I) in the base-plate 6 and the remaining portion 6 of said edge being angular and defining an essentially V- shaped wing 7 that projects toward the cen-' ter of the circular-edge portion 6, as shown The radial center of the circular-edge portion 6 is at g in the wing 7 near its angle, and concentric with said circular edge on the scale-plate 7 is a graduated scale h, that represents ninety degrees of a full circle,

5 extent, if desired. Upon the scale-plate 7 a rockable plate 8 ismounted and pivoted at g, the pivot being preferably hollow or in the form'of an eyelet that enables the tightening of the pivot conveniently if this becomes necessary, and the pivot: cis of a likeicharaoter for a similar purpose. The rockable plate 8 is preferably formed with a circular- .edge portion i,that at'its ends joins a straightedge portion '5, and on the latter, near the 5 pivot center 'g,acylindrical casing9 is formed orsecured,.that receivesand carries securely -a bubble-tube 10 of glass, that isnearlyfilled with. liquid and produces an air-bubble 00 therein, as usual, which will appear in asmall 10o .openingtmrin' the case 9 when'the tube is level, orinearly so. Theplate '8, which for -convenience'may be termed a tubecarrier plate overlaps with its circular defining edge tthe circular-edge portion 6 on the scale- 10 5 plate 7. A plate-'like'resilient dog leis secured by one end on the normally rearside' of the tube carrier plate '8 and laps over the .--edge:e of the circular opening in the scalesaid dog being perforated and 110 plate 7, threaded in the perforation for reception of tha threaded; body of a clamping-screwi'm,

the milled head on which is adapted for manipulation on the exterior of the instrument, as appears in Figs. 1 and 2. It will be seen that a turning adjustment of the clampingscrew m in a proper direction will press the resilient dog it and tube-carrier plate 8 into contact with the scale-plate 7 and bind the tube-carrier plate for its retention at any desired point of rotatable adjustment on said scaleplate. An index-finger n may project from the adjacent edge of the tube-carrier plate 8 toward the segmental graduated scale h, and when the bubble 0c in the tube 10 is disposed at the center of the opening :13 in the casing 9, and thus indicates a level position for the instrument, the pointer or indexfinger 'n, will be positioned opposite the first graduation 0 or zero, on the scale h, as shown in Fig. 1. A preferably arcuate detent spring-arm 11 is secured on the tube-carrier plate 8 below the casing 9 and curves upward at one end thereof that terminates in a small toe 0, and, as shown in Fig. 1, the toe 0 occupies a corresponding notch 0 in the edge of the scale-plate 7, opposite and near to the graduated scale h, when the index-finger n is at zero thereon, thus serving to hold the leveltube horizontal for use as a spirit-level. In the circular edge of the opening in the scaleplate 7 a notch 0 is formed, which is ninety degrees distant from the notch 0, and when the device is to be used as a plumb -indicator the tube carrier-plate 8 is turned on its pivot in direction of the curved arrow 2 in Fig. 1 until the toe 0 enters the notch 0 which will dispose the bubble-tube 10 in a plane at right angles to the plane it occupies when the tube is arranged for indicating a horizontal position.

The adjusting device hereinbefore mentioned is constructed as is clearly shown in Fig. 5, consisting, essentially, of a rectangularly-bent frame p, that projects forward on the base-plate 6, its projecting legs p being secured to said base-plate respectively above and below the arm (1 on the scale-plate 7. Journaled in the legs 10 is a screw 29 that is held in place free to rotate by a kerfed head p at one end of the screw-body and a fixed collar 10 at the opposite end thereof, the head and collar having loose contact with the eX teriors of the legs p. The thread on the body of the screw p is quite fine, and upon said thread is screwed a nut-block 19 From the arm d extends two clasping members d, that oppositely embrace the nut-block 10'', engaging the sides thereof which are parallel with the legs p.

It will be seen that by the application of a screw-driver to the kerfed head p on the screw 10 and turning the same the resulting traverse of the nut-block p on said screwbody will slightly rock the scale-plate 7 on its pivot c and correspondingly incline the bubble tube 10, this provision being of great advantage in primarily adjusting the bubble-tube so as to insure accuracy, that is otherwise difficult to attain.

The device hereinbefore described is for effective service mounted upon the side of a preferably wooden straight-edge 12, that is, as its name indicates, true and straight on the working edge, perforations 1", formed in the base-plate 6 near its four corners, enabling the fixture of the instrument upon the straight edge by insertion of screws 1", as is indicated in Fig. 1. The straight-edge 12 may be of any suitable length, and in case it is desired to read the indication of the bubble a: from both sides of the level-stock or straight-edge 12 the latter may have an opening therethrough.

lVhen the instrument is to be employed in leveling a road-bed or sills and plate-timbers of a building-frame, the straight-edge may have considerable length. By rocking the tube-carrier plate 8 and easing 9 so as to cause the index-finger n to indicate on the proper degree on the scale h a correct inclination maybe given to the bubble-tube for indicating the pitch to be given rafters of a roof or the incline of a road from its center to the gutters, as well as the outward slope for a sidewalk or pavement.

When the toe 0 of the spring-detent 11 is located in the notch 0 the instrument and its temporary stock 12 becomes a plump-indicator that will show if upright timbers in a building are plumb, or, in other words, are exactly perpendicular, and, if necessary, enable their disposition in a vertical plane. The sloped transverse end walls a on the baseplate 6 facilitate the movement of the instru ment over timbers or other material while in use, preventing the device from catching fast upon any obstruction if it is moved over the same endwise or from injury to the parts of the instrument, if laid face downward.

It will be noted that in itself the improved instrument is small, has its working parts compactly arranged, is easily secured upon a level-stock or a temporary straight-edge, and when removed therefrom may be conveniently carried upon the person. Furthermore, it is evident that the improvement is adapted for effective service either as a level, a plumb-indicator, or an inclinometer, requiring but a slight change in adjustment to adapt it for either of said uses.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination with a baseplate, a scale-plate pivoted near one end on the baseplate and having a partly-circular-edged opening therein, and also having a scale graduation partly around the circular-edged opening, of a tube-carrier plate pivoted upon the scale-plate, and a bubble-tube mounted upon the tube-carrier plate.

2. The combination with a base plate having sloped end walls, and an aperture therein,

of a scale-plate. pivoted near one end on'the base-plate having apartly-circular-edged opening therein and an angular Wing,'and also having a scale graduation partly around the circular-edged opening, of a tube-carrying plate ivoted on the angular Wing of the scalelate, a tubular casing on the carryingplate, a bubble-tube held in the casing, and an index-finger indicating on the scale graduation. v

3; The combination'with a base-plate having an aperture therein, of an oblong scale-4 plate ivoted near one end on the base-plate over t e aperture, an adjusting means connected With the opposite end of the scaleplate, said scale-plate having a partly-circuar-edged opening therein and an angular Win and also having a scale graduation p'artly aroundthe circular-edged opening, of a tube-carrying plate pivoted on the angular Wing of the scale-plate, a tubular casing mounted on the carrying-plate, and a bubbletube held in the'casing.

4. The combination With'a base-plate having a curved-edged aperture therein, of an oblong scale-plate pivoted near one end on the base-plate over the aperture, an adjusting means connected With theopposite end of'the base-plate and scale-plate, said scaleplate having a partly-circular-edged opening therein and a Wing, and also having a scale graduation partly around the circular-edged opening, a tube-carrying plate pivoted upon the Wing of the scale-plate, a tubular casing mounted on the carrying-plate, a bubble-tube in the casing, and an adjustable clamp car-. ried by the tube-carrying plate and engaging the curved dge of the aperture in the baseplate. a a

5. The combination with a base-plate having a curved-edged aperture therein, of an i an adjusting device connecting oblong scale-plate pivoted near one end on the base-plate over-the a erture, an adjusting-device connecting the ass-plate With the opposite end of the scalelate, said sealeplate having a partly-circ therein and a wing, and also having a scale graduation partly around the circular-edged opening, a tube-carrying plate pivoted upon the Wing of the scale-plate, a tubular casing mounted upon said carrying-plate, a bubbletube in the casing, a resilient clamping means carried by the tube-carrying plate and engaging .the curved edge of the aperture in the base-plate, and a resilient detent-arm mounted upon the tube-carrying plate and having a toe on itsfreeend that may engage in notches formed in said curved edge of the aperture in the base-plate. V

i 6. The combination with a level-stock having a straight-edge, of an instrument for indicating plumb-level and inclined prising a circularly-a curable on the leve clined transverse end plate pivoted near one planes, comertured base-plate sestock and having in- Walls thereon, a scaleend on the base-plate, the opposite end of the scale-plate .Withthe base-plate, said scale-plate having scale graduations arar-edged opening ranged on a curve, a tube-carrying plate piv= oted on the scale-plate and adapted to indi: cate on the scale graduations, a bubble-tube carried by said carrying-plate, and a resilient detent-arm mounted upon the tube-carrying plate and having a toe on its free end, which may engage in notches formed in the curved defining edge of the aperture in'the base-plate. In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

WINSLOW A. DIMICK. Witnesses:

G.- R. PEROIVAL, M. A. ROWLEY. 

